Friday, November 27, 2020

Rough Trade Singles: How Soon Is 1985?

RTM 173 (Sacred Heart Hotel by The Stars Of Heaven) is one of the mini-albums in the Rough Trade singles catalog. Slates, We Hate You South African Bastards, and Live At Ronnie Scott's by Weekend are some of the others. Too short for an LP but longer than a typical EP, I suppose. Microdisney, Easterhouse, The Smiths' finest moment ("How Soon Is Now") and The Woodentops round out Volume 22.

Everyday Living by The Woodentops (RT 178) was released as a 12" and as a double 7" in a gatefold sleeve.  The title track and "Why" were remixed by Adrian Sherwood; Godwin Logie remixed the other two tracks. The Feelies returned to Rough Trade with RT 180, an EP containing two original songs and two covers. The Seers' sole Rough Trade release is followed by a high concept single by Sudden Sway (RT 183): eight minute-length jingles for imaginary products. All these plus more Smiths (RT 181) and Woodentops are contained in Vol. 23.

Vol. 24 begins with Arthur Russell's "Let's Go Swimming" (RT 184), followed by Microdisney's gorgeous "Birthday Girl", The Smiths (RT 186), one last morsel from Princess Tinymeat, and in closing, an EP by The Apartments from Australia (RT 188).

As mentioned at the start of this series, the singles are presented in the order of the catalog numbers assigned to them, rather than in chronological order of release. Release dates in today's volumes range from 1984 to 1988.

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6 comments:

  1. jonderNovember 27, 2020 at 2:59 PM

    V22 (RT 173-178): https://tinyurl.com/y29gsdlv

    V23 (RT 178-183): https://tinyurl.com/y4y4olu4

    V24 (RT 184-188): https://tinyurl.com/y4gkqlcl

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  2. antony jNovember 27, 2020 at 5:04 PM

    Brilliant! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Paolo MeccanoNovember 28, 2020 at 6:37 AM

    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Piers the PlowmanNovember 30, 2020 at 4:35 AM

    Excellent stuff! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Viacomclosedmedown on youtubeNovember 30, 2020 at 9:24 AM

    Yes, they are a killour band, I have these: The WOODENTOPS - Plenty 7 84 w It Will Come EP 85 w Straight Eight Bushwaker LP 85 w Giant LP 86 w Well Well Well... LP 86 w Live Hypno Beat Live LP 86 w Wooden Foot Cops On The Highway LP 88

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    Replies
    1. jonderDecember 1, 2020 at 11:18 AM

      Woodentops is one band that makes me curious about Rough Trade's catalog numbering scheme. RT 177 came out in 1985, RT 178 in 1986, and RT 179 in 1988. I wonder if their Rough Trade contract called for a certain number of singles, and the label reserved those three consecutive catalog numbers; but maybe RT "didn't hear another single" after RT 177 until the Giant album (1986) and Wooden Foot Cops (1988)?

      If you're looking for more Woodentops, go to downunderground.blogspot.com and ask Viacomclosedmedown to repost his collection!

      Delete

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